What Happened

Spiders released GreedFall: The Dying World in mid-March 2026, a follow-up to their cult-hit 2019 RPG. Just six weeks later, the studio shuttered — not because the game failed on its own merits, but because parent publisher Nacon entered insolvency proceedings. Nacon’s financial troubles proved fatal for multiple studios under its umbrella. Spiders, despite completing and shipping a full game, couldn’t survive the collapse of its publisher. The Paris-based team had approximately 60 developers, all of whom now face an uncertain future in a games industry already experiencing widespread layoffs and studio closures.

Industry Impact

Spiders’ closure is a stark reminder of how developer fate is tied inextricably to publisher health. Studios can ship products on time, on budget, and to reasonable acclaim — and still get wiped out when the financial house of cards above them collapses. Nacon had built an empire of mid-tier game studios but over-leveraged expansion in a difficult market, and the bill finally came due. This follows a broader pattern of mid-tier publisher struggles that have claimed dozens of studios over the past two years. The so-called “eurojank” genre — ambitious European RPGs with rough edges and genuine heart — has already lost key practitioners. Each closure makes this space smaller and diminishes the creative diversity of the medium.

The Bigger Picture

For entrepreneurs and investors watching the gaming industry, Spiders’ story is a cautionary tale about single-publisher dependency. As a developer, your creative work is only as safe as your financial backer’s balance sheet. Diversification — across publishers, revenue streams, and platforms — is no longer optional survival strategy; it’s table stakes. The broader mid-tier games market faces immense pressure from both blockbuster productions and viral indie hits. Studios caught in the middle, making ambitious RPGs for niche-but-passionate audiences, are navigating an increasingly hostile funding landscape. The lesson for any creative business is clear: your output’s survival depends not just on quality, but on the financial resilience of everyone in your chain.

Spiders made games that people genuinely loved despite their imperfections. Their closure is a loss for players who wanted something different from the AAA machine — and another data point in a troubling trend of publisher-driven studio collapses that shows no signs of stopping.

Source: PC Gamer

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What Happened

Developer Ice Pick Lodge delivered something exceptional with Esoteric Ebb, a narrative RPG that blends D&D-inspired mechanics with a dialogue system reminiscent of Disco Elysium. The game released on March 3, 2026, and immediately captured the attention of RPG enthusiasts worldwide.

Players step into a surreal world where conversation is combat and every choice ripples through the narrative. The writing has been praised as phenomenal, with reviewers noting the game’s ability to balance dark humor with genuinely touching moments. Steam users have responded overwhelmingly — 96% of nearly 4,000 reviews are positive, a rare achievement for any game.

Industry Impact

The success of Esoteric Ebb signals a healthy appetite for ambitious narrative RPGs in 2026. While many studios chase live-service trends and battle royale formulas, Ice Pick Lodge bet on dense storytelling and won big. The game’s commercial performance demonstrates that players still hunger for experiences that prioritize writing and player agency over spectacle.

For indie studios watching from the sidelines, Esoteric Ebb offers a blueprint: invest in narrative depth, trust your audience’s intelligence, and don’t be afraid to wear your influences on your sleeve while still innovating.

The Bigger Picture

Esoteric Ebb’s triumph represents a broader shift in the RPG landscape. Following the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 and the continued relevance of Disco Elysium, players have made their preferences clear — they want games that respect their time and intelligence.

With competitors like Avowed and other major RPGs launching throughout 2026, Esoteric Ebb has set an unexpectedly high bar. The question now isn’t whether other RPGs can match it, but whether they can even come close.

Conclusion

Esoteric Ebb isn’t just a great RPG — it’s a statement about what the genre can achieve when developers prioritize ambition over safety. If you play one RPG this year, make it this one.

Source: PC Gamer, OpenCritic, Steam — April 2026

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Horizon Forbidden West’s Plot

Horizon Forbidden West’s story starts with a plague that is ravaging humanity: the Blight. In hopes of finding a cure to the plague, Aloy travels to the “Forbidden West”. Shock. It’s called the “forbidden west” because of the unforgiving lands of California and the aggressive Tenakth tribe that inhabits it.

Friends from the previous game: Erend and Varl accompany Aloy on her treacherous journey. Furthermore, Horizon Forbidden West focuses more on human emotions and explores the depths of each character and their relationships. Creating more unrest in the group, allowing for more character development.  During the long journey Aloy takes into the new territories, the stunning graphics are flaunted everywhere available. . This distance helps humanize Aloy and provides a reason for them to strengthen their bonds.

Horizon Forbidden West’s look and feel

Forbidden West had a step up in the visual department. Step up is an understatement, it’s more of a leap. Even the new God of War dulls in comparison to the use of lighting in Horizon Forbidden West. Don’t let the game’s visuals distract you though. In comparison to the previous game, Forbidden West explored a lot more of the beautiful Sci-Fi lands. The in-game world compared to the real world is much more compact. This isn’t a bad thing as it allows the game to have a more concentrated amount of significance.

Aloy’s movement is much more complicated and faulty in Horizon Forbidden West. Although you can fine-tune movement settings more than in the previous game, the mechanics are much more difficult. Aloy now behaves more like a human, making mistakes and missing jumps even if you are aiming flawlessly. This adds to the humanizing effect Guerrilla Games clearly aims to achieve.

Combat Mechanics

There is no getting around it. Fighting is much more difficult to master in this sequel. However, once you do master it, the flow is much more watery and satisfying. As mentioned before, Aloy is now prone to make more mistakes just like us in the real world. This makes mastery ever more challenging.

While it may be boring or tiresome to fight other human enemies such as the ones from the Tenakth tribe: the fights against robot enemies showcase the new combat mechanics. Tough enemies that are usually tiresome can now be satisfyingly defeated using just a few traps from your wide range of equipment. Combat has a lot more depth in Horizon Forbidden West due to the new elemental weakness and strength factors.

Closing thoughts

although the movement mistakes that Aloy makes can get very redundant and unnecessary, the game is overall very enjoyable. Even though there isn’t as much emphasis on the action, the storytelling in Horizon Forbidden West is top tier as it explores each character in more depth than ever before. Not to mention, the breathtaking graphics (especially the new lighting) are levels ahead of most games so far. It’s clear that a lot of effort and budget was put into the development of Horizon Forbidden West. Hopefully, the next installment (if there is a chapter 3) will continue to build on the enriched characters explored during this game.

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It was only a few years ago that mobile devices could not yet support the hardware demands of these games and the RPG experience was still mostly reserved for PC and console. However, that has changed drastically as mobile technology has become advanced enough for a gaming experience beyond Angry Birds and the like. Today, the mobile gaming market is awash with RPG titles – both good and bad.

Thankfully, in this list, we zero in on the best of the lot. However, one should note that the majority of them do not follow the principles of Free-to-Play and will require a little capital contribution before you can start playing. Nevertheless, they’re all worth every penny you put in. Without further ado, here are the best RPGs you can download and play on Android and IOS devices – in no particular order.

Final Fantasy RPG

First on the list is the latest installment of one of the most iconic RPG sagas of all time, Final Fantasy. This series has not been shy of going full throttle into the mobile gaming market with the developer, Square Enix, making a plethora of originals and spin-offs available for mobile.

The Final Fantasy series has always had a little something for everyone, whether you’re a fan of futuristic sci-fi or the medieval type of fantasy. Getting access to this on your mobile could cost as much as $21. However, with these being full games that cut a share upwards of 2GIGs of your device’s storage space, the asking price might not be that unreasonable.

Baldur’s Gate

Baldur’s Gate is another classic of the RPG genre that has been reborn in the era of mobile gaming. Many years after the original was praised as the title that initiated the RPG renaissance of 1998, the game remains a solid choice for anyone who enjoyed Dungeons and Dragons.

In its mobile version, the game retains the classical approach to the RPG genre, where players are sent off on a quest that sees them taking on mythical beasts, brewing potions, and collecting special items. The one downside is that the game is better experienced via tablet or flagship phones with bigger screens as the text and menu controls may be a little too small on a smaller screen. Getting started on Baldur’s Gate carries a cost of $10.

Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time & Space RPG

Another Eden is a product of the writers Masato Kato and Yasunori Mitsuda, a respected duo that has worked together on other successful titles like Chrono Trigger.

This time, the collaborative effort brings a game with a fairly simple plot. However, the game’s strong focus on time-traveling makes for an enthralling experience.

The game was originally published in 2016 and was updated as recently as April this year. What’s more, is that this title was never ported from other platforms to mobile. Another Eden is an RPG that was planned and developed for mobile gaming. The game is Free-to-Play and has in-app purchases.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II

Knights of the Old Republic 2 is a sequel to the game that brought the full KOTOR experience to our mobile phones. Though a large download at 2.4GB, Knights of the Old Republic is an embodiment of the classical Star Wars RPG brought to your phone.

Just like the first one, this game allows players to choose their own path. The story is a continuation from where the first KOTOR left off and costs $10 to download.

Genish Impact

This is probably the easiest release on the list. Genish Impact’s gameplay is built around a party based fighting system where elemental powers are incorporated and switching between different characters is key to winning. The game is in some ways reminiscent of the Zelda games.

With vast maps to explore, Genish Impact is quite an enjoyable mobile RPG experience. However, being a free-to-play offering comes with its own issues. Namely, the gacha mechanics that have become synonymous with F2P gaming.

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The game revolves around a sasquatch who is on a mission to save his park from being sold. In order to do so, the sasquatch has to follow leads that will ultimately get him to a hidden treasure that will help him save the park.

However, the journey to finding the stashed riches is not as straightforward as it sounds. It is a delightful adventure, with loads of side missions where our protagonist yeti has to stealthy manoeuvre his way around the park completing tasks for the forest critters, in return for gold.

The well thought out layers to this game don’t end there. The sasquatch also has to consider his own stomach and the need to sleep, and this only makes the game more entertaining. Besides watching out for park rangers, the sasquatch has to ninja his way in and out of human campsites, and scour through their rummage to find food.

This is where all the gold you earn from the side missions comes into play. You can purchase clothes to use as a disguise (it won’t work against the park rangers). There are many other things you do with the gold lile, buying a set of golf clubs and playing in tournaments, or buying a sports car and taking part in races. As the game advances, the adventures get wackier (in a fun way), it is all a part of how the story is told.

As Sneaky Sasquatch’s gameplay environment has day and night cycles, one has to complete missions and acquire food during the day cycle before heading home to call it a night. You have the option to travel manually – If you prefer the scenic route, or via a “fast-travel” item to get you there quicker.

Playing Sneaky Sasquatch is about slowly working your way to the final objective by exploring the land, earning new items, and discovering new paths and side missions – it’s a quirky mixture of Grand Theft Auto and adventure type Role Playing Game (RPG).

So What Are The Controls Like?

The game offers the option of using basic touch control, but it is also compatible with a connectible controller. Both have their upsides. For example, some may find that a controller works better for basic movements, while the touch controls might work better for a task like driving.

To ensure that you are always at your utmost sneakiest, the developers added a circular meter around other in-game characters to let you know how close you are to being detected by them. Finding yourself in the “ranger-danger” zone will be you getting chased around, GTA style, till you evade or get caught and booted off the park.

In a nutshell, Sneaky Sasquatch has some moments of tension, but the game leans more towards family friendly fun. The fact that you can save multiple player profiles adds to that.

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This mobile offering is quite a departure from what the game’s original developers SNK had released – a one on one tag team fighting experience. Now under the stewardship of Netmarble, The King of Fighters ALLSTAR has now been reinvented in the form of a classic beat-em-up. Storyline included.

The flashy, free to play mobile game is available for download on both AppStore and Google play. The aforementioned storyline thrusts the player into the life of a nameless character who manifests classic KoF characters in order to fight off droves of generic enemies.

The object? Our nameless hero is on a quest to find some answers about who he is and how he acquired his abilities. With the help of a girl named Noah – who advises the character to join the KoF tournament, the hope of getting the answers he seeks – our hero embarks on his journey.

How’s The Gameplay ? 

First up, the graphics on this offering are commendable. The second positive point is that the controls are fairly simple and getting yourself used to them should not be a challenge.

Playing through the game is no different from any other old-school beat-em-up RPG. Using the digital analog stick to navigate, you fight off enemies moving from one screen to the next. At the end you will have to fight a boss character before progressing to the next level, where you will rinse and repeat – against slightly tougher foes.

However, due to KoF ALLSTAR being a mobile offering, levels are about three screens long – which is good for on the move gaming. Thankfully, there are more than enough levels to keep your boredom at Bay.

A player can swap between their 3 chosen characters at will, and one has to pay attention to an elemental affinity system. This means that characters of a certain element may be stronger or weaker against enemies of a specific element, like water versus fire for example. A diverse selection is advised.

Though the actual fighting is limited to basic kicks, punches, and signature moves, the beauty of KoF ALLSTAR’s gameplay lies in how you manage your team of chosen fighters. All three have an individual skill tree which has to be worked at to upgrade a character’s stats, unlock new skills.

It also features a co-op mode where players can team up and in app purchases.

Pros 

The visuals are stunning and the stylized look fits very uniformly with the theme. The game is strangely addictive.

Cons

The only real flaw would be its free to play nature.

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Auto Brawl Chess: Battle Royale is a mobile based role playing game (RPG) and strategy game where one can play against the AI or even challenge other human opponents. Truth be told, the game only loosely applies the rules of chess during the five minutes of battle royale style engagement.

With an introductory clip that oversells the gratuity of the combat action, the game’s design is playful and the style is tilted towards a cartoonish look.

What’s The Game Like?

Created by Panoramik Games, Auto Brawl Chess puts player against player/AI on a battlefield that resembles a traditional chess board. Guided by a set of rules that are adapted from the original game of chess, players will compete against one another to decide a winner.

To do this, each player has numerous heros from over 100 factions and classes to choose from. And this is where the strategic element of the game comes into play. So one needs to consider how each new addition will complement their team, and how they will perform against your opponent’s chosen heros.

These characters can also be upgraded. This is done in between skirmishes using your earnings from battles that you’ve engaged in. Moreover, you can even use the coins to increase the number of characters you have on the field – if numbers is your game.

For every battle, players have access to a “Warlord” character who joins them in the fight. However, the Warlord does not engage in any fighting. Instead, their presence gives a bonus – like a 15% health increase – to your other heros. You can also unlock new warlords by increasing rank, or simply purchasing a new warlord if your budget permits.

Auto Brawl Chess is as the name suggests. All the fighting is completely automated. When all the preparations are completed and characters are lined up on the board, players can only watch and hope that they have made the right tactical decisions.

The Good

Auto Brawl Chess: Battle Royale does a good job of making its unusual combination of genres an enjoyable experience. When you consider the elements of an RPG being combined with strategy and a Battle Royale style of play, it might be hard to imagine it actually working. However, this game might have the correct formula.

The Bad

One of the most noticeable shortcomings is how little introduction or explaination is given around the choices one has when choosing character classes and factions that are available. In fact, the vague approach seems to spill over on to other aspects of gameplay. The rules of the game are not as clearly explained as they should be, and some – if not most – players might struggle to understand the conditions to winning in the first few tries.

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Just as The Godfather and Pulp Fiction were limited by the technology available in their time, are still classics, so is Mass Effect. Not because it took the player on a quest to save the galaxy, with the odd side mission, but because it immerses one in the story line by cleverly evoking one’s curiosity, sense of duty, as well as enables an unprecedented amount of choice.

Despite the criticism the franchise has garnered over the years, Mass Effect remains at the top of many a gamer’s list of favorite titles. Despite using one’s own amygdala against them half the time, Bioware employed a lot of functional and narrative devices that generated a higher level of player engagement than any other game. Bioware evoked a great deal of discussion around the possibilities, and philosophical, as well as ethical issues concerning space travel – while delving more deeply into modern societal concepts than any other franchise has, to date.

Game Play

Numerous gamers will probably admit to being hooked from the word ‘go’. The game, as with other RPG titles, has allowed the user to generate their own character, with no set race, sexual orientation, or gender, all of that is left to the player’s discretion. This sets the tone for the rest of the game as just about every choice one make’s, from that point onward, will create thousands of variables that will affect one’s story throughout the series. The consequence of choices made in Mass Effect 1 may only come to fruition in Mass Effect 3.

The Mass Effect series also tends to put great emphasis on relationships. How a player interacts with in-game characters not only affects gameplay, but character development as well – of player and in-game character alike. Take smart-mouthed Turian, Garrus Varkarian for instance; this character starts out with a chaotic-good personality who’s heart is in the right place but follows some unorthodox methods to effect justice. With adequate interaction, a strong bond can form between Garrus and Shepard (the main character) with Garrus easing his hard-line stance on matters.

Choices made in the game can also lead to certain relationships, either strengthening, or completely falling apart. A choice in Mass Effect 1 could lead to Shepard butting heads with Krogan crew member, Wrex, depending on previous choices and relationships with other characters, the situation could lead to a warm reunion between Shepard and Wrex in Mass Effect 2, or Shepard could end up doing a lot of explaining to Wrex’s brother.

The second installment of the game gives one a glimpse into Shepard’s influence on characters he/she interacted with in Mass Effect 1, while showing one how they have developed individually after Shepard’s 5 year absence following a tragic event that took place after the battle of the Citadel.

Aside from the 32-odd star systems and planets available for exploration (creating a false sense of safety before the next mission), Mass Effect’s gameplay has a way of making a user enter the next level of gameplay because they want to. With each quest one completes, only more questions arise.

Bioware do very well in giving players a sense of progression as the series unfolds, with Mass Effect 1 giving a player a sense of how insignificant they are – in view of the vastness of space – and having to prove oneself and representing humanity against great odds. Mass Effect 2 and 3, on the other hand portray Shepard as a more experienced, resolute, and battle-hardened character.

The Philosophical Aspect

What Mass Effect does right away, unlike other sci-fi franchises, is put humans in their place; so to speak. The game does away with one’s innate sense of superiority and any prejudices a player might have by putting humans in an underdog position, trying to earn a place on The Council (a galactic United Nations, of sorts).

This does away with the assumption that humans automatically have a valuable role to play in the goings-on of the galaxy. Offering the player a sense that they have a lot to prove. Mass Effect also eliminates the idea that intelligent life has a greater purpose, set out by a greater being. Carried across, through the various species in the game, who are near artistically used as devices for the exploration of the nonlinear progression of intelligent life.

On one hand you have the Quarians, a vagabond race who were displaced from their home world by an artificial intelligence they created. On the other, the Krogans, a warlike race who were uplifted by The Council, to aid in a battle against an invasion by a hostile insectoid species, only to use the sophisticated weapons they had gained access to against the rest of the galaxy later on.

Mass Effect, forces one to confront some tough questions; is it all meaningless? What value can humanity add to cosmic civilization? What value can one contribute to humanity? How important are relationships in the face of catastrophe? When race, gender and orientation are no longer a factor, what is most important? How does one measure the value of one life in comparison to another? The player takes on all these questions, naked of any preset notions. That is what makes Mass Effect one of the greatest sci-fi RPG games of all time- if not the best.

There is word of Bioware revisiting the franchise after the failure of their reboot, Mass Effect: Andromeda, which takes place centuries after the events of the initial Mass Effect trilogy, and in a different galaxy altogether. It may be the next installment in the Andromeda series (which would be great, as there are a lot of unresolved questions we have), or Bioware may take the franchise in a completely different direction. Either way, if they develop a story as engagingly human as the original Mass Effect trilogy, they may just bring the franchise back to its former glory, yet.

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